Liz McManus (Wicklow, Labour)
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Question 164: To ask the Minister for Transport the number of United States troops who landed at Shannon Airport in 2003 and 2004 to date; if he has plans to review permission for such landings in view of the recent view expressed by the Secretary General of the United Nations that the US led invasion of Iraq was illegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26969/04]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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Civilian air carriers carrying weapons or munitions wishing to land or over-fly Irish airspace are obliged to seek exemption from the provisions of sections 6 and 7 of the Air Navigation (Carriage of Munitions of War, Weapons and Dangerous Goods) Order 1973. This order applies only to the carriage of munitions of war, weapons and dangerous goods and not to military personnel. There is no limitation on the carriage of military troops on civilian aircraft if they are unaccompanied by weapons or munitions, as is sometimes the case. My Department, therefore, does not collate information with regard to the number of military troops.

On the basis of information collected by Shannon Airport management, the numbers of troops travelling on civilian aircraft for all of 2003 was 121,943 and for 2004 to 26 October 2004 is 126,504. These are the most recent statistics compiled by Shannon Airport management. I have no intention to change the current policy regarding the transit of US troops carrying munitions of war through Shannon Airport.